The Patea County Press, (With winch is incorporated The Patea Mail.) “Be Just and Fear Not.” WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27th 1895. POLITICAL CHANGES.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 142, 27 November 1895, Page 2

The Patea County Press, (With winch is incorporated The Patea Mail.) “Be Just and Fear Not.” WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27th 1895. POLITICAL CHANGES.

Thk announcement that .Sir Patrick Buckley had accepted the Judgeship offered him by his Government was, of course, fully expected by everyone, none for a moment supposing that the “ cock and bull ” story of Mr f-Wldon’s about an enquiry us to the necessity of appointing a judge at all, bad the slightest glimmer of earnestness in it; all well knowing that the former staff of Judges was worked up to a very severe straining point, and that the absence of one—and that one the hardest working one must lodge .Supremo Court work in a state of hopeless accmmuulation and confusion. Wo cannot congratulate either the Supreme Court, or the colony on this appointment, as Sir Patrick Buckley cannot bo considered a “ shining light ” in any capacity whatever, for ho lias no record whatever upon which to found the hope that his present appointment will in anyway enhance the brilliancy of our Supreme Court bench, or in anyway replace the loss sustained by the death of the late Mr Justice Pichmond, Sir Patrick, though knowing this full well, can scarcely he blamed. He had the “ right ” to the position, and tho veneer of qualification

requisite to enable bim to accept it, and | he has done so, though reports tend to j shew that he has done so more to satisfy the anxieties of his colleagues to bo safely rid of him than with any idea or hope of satisfactorily performing the onerous duties attaching to the position. It is not complimentary to New Zealand to have its highest tribunals thus supplied, for it is beyond dispute that there is nothing—absolutely nothing—in the record of Sir Patrick’s political or professional life that suggests in the mildest form illness for this all important office, nor can his best friends foreshadow success attendant on his appointment. The best that can be said of. the appointment, and that is beside the question, is that the Soddon Government permanently award a not 100 pliont colleague for past services, thus whetting the ambition of future colleagues, while they permanently place him beyond the power of untoward interference with their future measures and loose administration, which, though no doubt eminently satisfactory to the Government, is scarcely a qualification for so high an office. Another intended change is the translation of Mr Undesirable Emigrants Rill Reeves into the position of Agent-General ;acaso precisely similar to the former. Mr Reeves’ measures have long nauseated the colony, and have at last nauseated the supporters of the Government in the House, and as a consequence he has become an exceedingly weak link in the Ministerial chain , and as a chain is admittedly only as strong us the weakest link, it became necessary to put in a new link in place of that very weak one. and as that weak link was yet too strong to utterly discard, for fear of reprisals, it must be provided for, and hence it conies that Mr Reeves must sue* ceed lir W. Percival as Agent-General Here again, as in the other case, it is not easy to understand the special qualification of Mr Reeves for the position. True it is that he has high literary attainments —probably few, if any, in the House have higher—but it does not appear by any means conclusive that high literary attainments alone form a qualification for the duties appertaining to the office of Agency-General ; and Mr Reeves has certainly no past record on which to calculate his successful administration oi that important office, and we arc again thrown back on to the same grounds as those for appointing tSir Patrick Buckley the getting rid of, while comfortably providing for, a none too well liked colleague; and by such provision securing the slavish adhesion of futuie fronds in the hope of similar recognition, of blind support. In addition to those two, Mr Montgomery has notified his severance from the present Ministerial chain, but gives no reason for his action, nor, so far as is yet known, receives no award for past services. Thus it is that throe Ministers are certain to go, while it is becoming daily more probable that ’eve long Mr Cadman will have to follow on account of failing health; so that four appointments will bo practically at the Premier’s disposal during the present recess, which means a power of “ recoa struction ” very rarely falling to tho lot of a reigning Government, and one the use of which must have a very marked effect on the next and last session of the present Parliament, and consequently, to a great extent, on tho next elections, How this power will bo used, and the effect produced, time alone can shew.